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00:00From the windswept cliffs of Australia's coastline
00:07To the ancient silence of the New Zealand bush
00:19I'll venture to places where the landscape still calls the shots
00:23Every decision is shaped by the elements
00:33And the isolation look how beautiful this is that is unbelievable
00:42What I've discovered isn't just clever design
00:47It's passion. This is a healing house. It's saved our marriage
00:52It's creativity
00:54Looks like some alien ship that's landed from outer space
01:00And it's survival on an island that doesn't have a corner store. You can't just shoot down and get a little side of something
01:09Because out here
01:11You need a different kind of person
01:16Definitely friends
01:18Daring
01:19I want Pat's house. I want her house. I want her shower, and I want her bathtub
01:25Innovative
01:28And deeply connected to the land they live on
01:31My grandfather must have
01:33My grandfather must have really loved my grandmother to have built a room like this for her
01:38Should we move on? Because we're going to cry
01:44Join me, George Clarke, and together we'll discover some of New Zealand and Australia's wildest hauls
01:52Today's journey begins one hour north of Auckland in the coastal town of Sandspit
02:13Well, it's time to say goodbye to the car because where I'm going there's no roads
02:24Carwo Island was formerly the home of one of New Zealand's first governors, Sir George Grey
02:33These days it's a hot spot for weekend sailors and curious day trippers
02:39With a commute time of just 20 minutes from the mainland
02:46And yet despite being so close
02:48It feels wonderfully remote
02:52But for its full-time residents, this isolation presents a few challenges
03:09The ocean is their only road in, out or even around the island
03:13There are no convenience stores, no connecting roads
03:20And who knows who your closest neighbour might be?
03:34My first port of call is in the bustling Bonacord Harbour
03:38I'm on my way to see my good friend and fellow architect, Ken Crossham
03:45And a house he's designed to withstand the elements
03:52Ken, how are you doing?
03:54George
03:55Good to see you
03:57Welcome back to NZ
03:59It's been a while, how are you?
04:00Really good, how are you?
04:01I'm fantastic and all the better for being here
04:03Look at that, it's absolutely stunning
04:05It's great isn't it?
04:06Welcome to island life
04:08Come on mate, please have a look
04:10Thanks
04:12I've known Ken for years
04:15And I've been delighted by his buildings
04:18So I can't wait to see his take on the holiday haul
04:22What Kiwis call a batch
04:27Come across the gangplank, George
04:29No, that's one way to get to your house
04:31Don't fall
04:32Don't fall
04:35I wouldn't like to walk across that after five beers
04:38I'll be straight in the water
04:43At the end of this coast walk
04:45The beach house Ken designed is hiding in plain sight
04:49So Ken this is it, it's very unusual
05:01What's unusual about it?
05:03George?
05:05Well it's very much a closed shop
05:07Well it's a very elemental little boat shed
05:10You know the idea was we're sitting here on the water
05:12On a jetty with a ramp up to a boat shed
05:16Beautiful, I love that
05:19Why is it all closed off?
05:21It's a pretty brutal environment here
05:23So we wanted to protect it from the elements
05:25Does it get battered?
05:27It gets hugely battered, you know this faces the sea
05:30And even though it's a pretty sheltered bay
05:32It gets big storms in here
05:34You look at some of your other buildings
05:36You do like them to be kind of folded up
05:38We do a lot of coastal work
05:40And so a lot of the projects kind of are holiday houses
05:43If we can close them up, it protects them
05:46That just gives security on every level doesn't it?
05:49It does, you could be an architect
05:51Can we open her up?
05:55Let's do it
05:56Ken, that is outstanding
06:14Opening these doors doesn't just show off Ken's amazing veranda
06:18With its beautiful bay view
06:20It also gives the first glimpse of an unexpectedly inviting interior
06:32It's fantastic
06:34Beautifully done
06:36It's kind of like a pineapple
06:39You know it's kind of juicy and warm and luscious on the inside
06:42I like that
06:44I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe a building as a pineapple
06:47Juicy on the inside and hard and protective on the outside
06:51Shall we go inside and have a look?
06:52Yeah, let's have a look
06:58So shall we start living room?
07:02Oh Ken, that is really beautiful
07:07This three bedroom, two bathroom batch is so tranquil and perfect for a holiday retreat
07:18It is very warm and very cosy, isn't it?
07:23In terms of the colour and the palette of materials
07:26The outside is that translucent industrial sheeting
07:30And then you come in here and it's all very cosy
07:35This place is used in the wintertime
07:38And so this is that more closed down space
07:40So you've intentionally made this a little bit more intimate
07:43And tighter at this end
07:46Do you know what? I hadn't noticed that
07:48No, you've literally shifted the stairs and the hallway
07:53Yeah
07:54To be at a slight angle
07:55Yeah
07:56So the living room is wider at that end
07:58But really narrow at this end
07:59And it's quite nice cos when you stand here
08:01It kind of compresses that view
08:03It really really frames it, doesn't it?
08:05It's amazing what a diagonal does in a plan
08:07You know it actually becomes so dynamic
08:08You open up this end and you actually close down that end
08:12Oh I see
08:14What a difference in the kitchen
08:16It's the opposite, isn't it?
08:17It's literally the opposite
08:19At that end it opens up but here it gets tighter, narrower, narrower
08:24Which makes the kitchen very efficient
08:27Really really functional, tucked back
08:29And so it's easy, grab something
08:31Got obviously the fridges and freezers in here
08:33And what's great Ken is when it
08:35I'm even looking at all the details of it
08:37There's just no fuss at all
08:40There's no decoration
08:42You know there's no skirting boards
08:43There's no linings
08:45But that's the thing, you know
08:47Keep it simple, keep it basic
08:49Ken's simple design shines through
08:52And the result speaks for itself
08:55But he has made one choice
08:58That baffles me
09:00You've got a sheet of corrugated metal
09:03Right outside the window
09:05You can't see anything
09:07So that's part of the shuttering
09:09The whole house closes down
09:11Just like the doors at the front, just to protect
09:13Hang on, let's have a look
09:15How does that work?
09:17Simple slider, a gentle push on the shutter
09:19And it's gas-stayed
09:24There you go
09:25Little gas-struts
09:27That's beautiful
09:33When you come into the central space
09:35It is like being in a barn
09:37And I mean that in the nicest way
09:39Yeah, I take that as a compliment
09:41It's beautiful
09:43The detailing is kind of agricultural
09:45It's very, very simple
09:47We express the brackets, the bolts, the screws
09:50And you see the slider, so that's a door
09:52So you've got complete flexibility to close spaces off
09:55I mean it is like closing a barn door
09:58It just happens to be a beautiful polycarbonate one
10:00But you can't see through
10:02Look at the light through there
10:04Yeah
10:06It's not prissy or kind of refined
10:08Yeah, you can see all the brackets
10:10Agricultural beauty that is
10:12And you know the volume in here
10:14Kind of get this feeling of height and space
10:16And you know what that does to the spirit
10:17It's kind of nice
10:18And so we wanted to reinforce that
10:20By creating a grating that you walk through and under
10:32So you get all the light coming through the slats on the landing
10:34And through the balcony and everything
10:36It's really difficult to get something that beautiful and looking that simple
10:45I mean even the treads on the staircase
10:48Yeah
10:49Are just really, really simple
10:51And if it's simple, we know
10:53It's not simple
10:55It's really difficult
10:57Ken's Barnhouse inspiration also extends to ventilation
11:03I've noticed you've got these tiny little pop-up openings on the first floor
11:10Standing here you can feel the draft
11:13So you know what we've got is we've got openings through
11:16So that the hot air is exhausted
11:18And there's a constant draft in the summertime
11:23You've got Japanese minimalism
11:25Then you've got the boathouse inspiration
11:28And then you've got an agricultural barn
11:29I don't know how you've managed to bring all of those beautiful themes together into one house
11:35And make it look so coherent
11:38Do you want to come out and see us?
11:39Yeah, let's do it
11:43I just love it
11:45The simple gaps that you go through just lets all the light filter through
11:48It feels lighter and lighter
11:52The space above the living room runs the same diagonal
11:55And is split into two
11:59The room at the back has bunk beds for the kids
12:04While the cosy front bedroom provides access to the view
12:12The master bedroom gets the same wide aspect as the kitchen below
12:19As well as an ensuite
12:22And in the back of the house we've got the utilities
12:26So on this level we've got this bathroom
12:28And on the bottom level we've got a bathroom as well
12:31All the pipework, drainage, the lot
12:33That side of the house
12:35And then all of this becomes free
12:37Yeah
12:39I just love the shape of the windows
12:41Beautiful landscape, panoramic
12:42That's not bad Ken
12:46And you just kind of hover out here
12:49When you're part of the bay
12:52If you get bored looking at this view
12:57And I can't imagine how
12:59There's a whole separate area out back
13:02For hosting barbecues, having a spa
13:05And just relaxing
13:07I could spend all night in Ken's incredible house
13:12And I'm going to have to
13:17Because the tide's gone out
13:19And we're stuck here until it comes back in
13:22Trust me, I'm not complaining one bit
13:27Ken, beautiful house
13:32But with an island built
13:34You've got to really think about everything
13:36Yeah, it's way more complex
13:38Because everything comes over on a barge
13:40Or a boat
13:42You can't just pick up a box of nails
13:45Because
13:47Or another sheet of ply or something
13:49So, you know, it's really, really important
13:51To be thinking about what you're putting into the house
13:53And how it's actually put together
13:55It pains me to even ask you this question
13:57Does it become more expensive?
13:59It is more expensive to build on an island
14:02The logistics of getting barges for a start
14:05Getting boats across
14:07And also if the labour force is on the mainland
14:10And having to come across each day
14:12So yes, no, it's more expensive for sure
14:14And what about power, water?
14:16Yeah, so they're self-contained
14:18You have to collect and rain harvest on site
14:19Sustainability is really, really important
14:23We're trying to keep the carbon footprint down
14:25And we're thinking about issues of durability
14:28It's a very corrosive environment
14:30Maintenance
14:32It's hard to maintain
14:34So what are the materials that actually kind of suit
14:36This position?
14:37And as an artist, what gives you the most joy and pleasure
14:47About building a home
14:49In the wild, on an island?
14:51Well, I have to say this site
14:53But it's pretty good, George
14:55I'll drink to that
14:56Cheers, man
14:57Cheers, buddy
14:58So good to see you
14:59Nice to see you
15:00It's been an absolute pleasure
15:01Ken's given me a warm welcome to Carwall
15:05I can't wait to see what else this rugged island has to offer
15:18With the abundance of boats moored around Carwall Island
15:22It really does feel like a holiday hotspot
15:26But for a small group of people
15:29Bon Accord Harbour
15:31Isn't just a getaway
15:33It's home
15:35And it's not only the heart of the island
15:38It's the heart of the action
15:41Now there might not be any cars on this island
15:44But thankfully there is one pub
15:48This is the Carwall Boating Club
15:51A community owned institution
15:54That provides the essential for its 700 members all year round
15:59From diesel to laundry
16:02And in the fairer seasons
16:04Beers
16:06At the helm of this island lifeline
16:09Is local legend, Dan
16:11Hey George
16:12Dan, very nice to meet you
16:13Do we hug it out or not?
16:14Yeah, mate
16:15We do
16:16Welcome to Carwall Boating Club
16:17Do you know what?
16:18Thanks for having me
16:19Beautiful
16:20But I tell you what, it's busy
16:21Unbelievably busy
16:22Look at the size
16:24Of that queue
16:25Which is kind of understandable
16:26When you're the only pub
16:28What's it like working here
16:29And being part of this community?
16:31Oh, great
16:32Like we get all the boaties in
16:34People come from like kayaks
16:36Small row boats
16:37To 200 foot soup yachts
16:39And everyone's just here to enjoy themselves
16:41It's great
16:42And there's no doubt about it
16:43You can tell that this is the heart of the community, isn't it?
16:45I mean the food looks amazing
16:46The beers look amazing
16:47The beers look amazing
16:48Everything's great
16:49What are the people like?
16:50I mean, because it's quite an isolated place
16:52I'm assuming that might reflect on the people that live here
16:56Yeah, we've got all sorts here, mate
16:58But you have to be a little bit different to live here full time
17:01This is about 70 to 80 people that live here
17:04And it can fluctuate to about 5,000 during summertime
17:08And with numbers like that
17:10All waiting for a cool brew
17:12I'm more than happy to jump the queue
17:16Now, I'll crave a handle
17:17Sawmill Pilsner is a beautiful local beer
17:20I love a Pilsner, mate
17:22How's that for a port?
17:23That is a beautiful port
17:24Is that alright?
17:25If you ever need the job
17:27Mate, I'll tell you what
17:28I would happily work here, mate
17:30Cheers, thanks
17:31So next summer I'll see you here
17:32Honestly, I'd work here for free
17:34Rather than holding up the line any longer
17:38I thought it best to take in the atmosphere
17:41Alongside some more of the island's full time residents
17:45So do you live on the island permanently?
17:47Yes
17:48What's it like?
17:49It's relaxed
17:51Beautiful
17:52Very quiet
17:53Well, it's not so much today
17:55But that's the thing, alright
17:56People that come here, they're all on holidays
17:57That's such a good vibe
17:59You'd imagine this would be like a multi multi multi millionaires island
18:03No
18:04It's kind of not
18:05There's people from all different backgrounds
18:06No
18:07And I think that's what makes it so special as well
18:09How does it add to the quality of life
18:11Not having cars and roads and lorries and trucks everywhere?
18:15Zero visual pollution, zero audio pollution, zero pollution pollution
18:21Zero anything pollution from the sounds of these
18:23Yeah
18:24Zero stress
18:25Yeah
18:27And one way the islanders avoid and wanted pollution and stress
18:31Lovely to see you
18:32Lovely to see you
18:34Is by making the most of the hard working mail boat
18:40Which doubles as a passenger ferry
18:42And triples as a grocery delivery service
18:46Which explains how I managed to hitch a ride to my next Cowwall Island homeowner
18:58And local woodturner, Gavin
19:00Gavin
19:03Gavin
19:04George
19:05Very nice to meet you sir
19:06You're working before you even get here
19:08I've got you a lot of stuff mate
19:09This is the groceries
19:10Everything you need
19:11Yeah mate
19:12Where are we heading?
19:13There's the place right there
19:15That's your house up there
19:16Yeah mate
19:19What a spot
19:20But how on earth do we get all of this up there?
19:25Well, come on over, I'll show you
19:26Okay, grab a box
19:27Okay
19:32What a location
19:35I haven't even seen your house
19:37And I'm jealous already
19:39Oh shit
19:41Um, Gavin you're not supposed to drop it all
19:44Yeah
19:45Yeah, I think my wife might have something to say about that
19:50Thankfully there's a safer pair of hands
19:53Or rather rails
19:55To take these boxes the rest of the way
19:58This is the winch my friend
20:00Crikey, you've got an entire winch
20:02And you've built the whole structure
20:04Yep
20:05To get anything you need up the hill
20:07The whole house went up there
20:09You're joking
20:10Obviously the barge comes in and offloads all the packets of timber
20:12On the wall
20:14But then you've got to get it from here up to there
20:18Hang on a minute
20:19The whole house
20:20So every single piece of timber
20:21Yep
20:22Every nail, every screw
20:23Yep
20:24On that?
20:25Minus the roofing iron
20:26We flew the roofing iron up
20:28Because the poor builder says we can do everything
20:30But please don't make us take like 11 metre long roofing iron up there
20:35Without bending it or twisting it
20:37But everything else went up here
20:39It was the best thing we've ever done
20:42With many of the island's homes built on this type of dramatic coastline
20:50I can't imagine this is an issue for just Ruth and Gavin
20:56It's good that they've got that winch
20:58I would not like to carry stuff all the way up here
21:00But as a hard won reward
21:03I get to stand by and watch the winch do the heavy lifting
21:09There she comes
21:14That's brilliant that
21:16It boggles the mind to imagine how many times this homemade winch
21:18Would have travelled up and down to haul a horn worth of equipment to this height
21:28It's not a bad life
21:33It's not a bad life
21:37Gavin came into possession of this precarious cliffside site
21:42Through his wife Ruth
21:44Whose family have had a love affair with Carwall Island for generations
21:48Her family bought this piece of land
21:51Leaving it largely undeveloped as a place to both camp and enjoy nature
21:58I think they originally planned to maybe retire here
22:03Didn't quite happen so it actually just stayed as an empty bush section
22:06So I guess when Ruth and myself
22:08Were kind of looking around thinking about you know
22:10Where could we build a house or buy land and stuff
22:12We kind of went oh
22:14We could actually come to the islands
22:16It's beautiful mate
22:17You like it?
22:18Really beautiful
22:21This two-story three-bedroom home rises gently from its surroundings
22:28Beautifully positioned and full of character
22:31It somehow doesn't shout for attention
22:35Lot of timber
22:37Everything about the house is basically wood
22:39The house is actually called to print
22:41Which is Welsh for the wooden house
22:43And why a Welsh name?
22:45Ruth's grandma was actually a Welsh lady
22:48It seems like the logical step for us
22:50I love the fact that you've picked a Welsh name
22:53To name your house in New Zealand
22:55And why the big sloping roof in that direction?
22:58It took us ages to figure it out
23:00But midsummer it'll keep the sun right out of the house entirely
23:03But then of course in wintertime the sun can actually shine all the way through the house
23:08Brilliant
23:10You spend five years balding on paper
23:12Is that what you did?
23:13I love making stuff, I love designing stuff
23:15My wife Ruth, she's got heaps of cool ideas as well
23:18It's time to figure out where to actually put the house
23:21Because it's quite a big section
23:23We actually came and stayed in tents here
23:26Kind of a little bit shy about cutting stuff down
23:28To go, oops, that wasn't the right spot
23:30Let's go somewhere else
23:32We're totally off-grid
23:34Totally off-grid?
23:35Yep, solar panels for electricity
23:37Only water we get is caught on the roof
23:39If you can be off-grid, absolutely do it
23:42And come on, with this weather
23:44Yeah
23:48With such thought outside
23:50I can't wait to see what's being done inside this wooden wonderland
23:55Come on in George
24:02Oh mate, that's beautiful
24:07You like that?
24:10I absolutely love it
24:12And as I kind of expected
24:14A lot of timber
24:15Yeah
24:16You've had fun in here, haven't you?
24:18Yep
24:20I mean I can see why you put the kitchen in that position
24:22Yep
24:23It's a prime spot, isn't it?
24:24We do enjoy some food
24:26So it's something which we really want to have as part of the house
24:29Not as a separate box hiding over there
24:31Absolutely
24:33Let's have a closer look at your handiwork
24:35I love the kitchen doors
24:37They're beautiful
24:38You've got the odd handle
24:39Yeah
24:40But most of it is handle-free
24:42With that gorgeous detail that you've put in there
24:44That's stunning, that
24:46And then talk me through this
24:47Because it's very different to what you've made on this side
24:50Yeah, I'm glad you noticed, mate
24:52This is actually the original table the builders made
24:55It's always been here and it's just so hard to get rid of it
24:58It's lovely, it's kind of literally a cover sheet of plywood
25:01That's quite a beautiful story, the fact that that table helped build the house
25:05Exactly
25:06And now it's like your island unit
25:09Every cabinet and surface speaks to Gavin's skill and love of timber
25:16And beyond the windows, the landscape feels like an extension of that same care and craft
25:24Look at that view
25:26This is where I eat breakfast every morning
25:29Do you? I am jealous as hell
25:31What do you eat for breakfast?
25:33To be honest, in that position I'll eat absolutely anything and I'll be happy
25:36Shall we have a look at the rest of the house?
25:40Yeah, come on
25:41After you
25:44It's been a Herculean effort building this home on a hill
25:49Hauling up fixtures like this giant bathtub
25:53Or this stove
25:55How on earth did you get that up here?
25:59Did you use the winch?
26:00Of course
26:01Of course, standard
26:03Stripped everything off it that we could possibly
26:05All the doors, all the wings, all the backing, all the plates
26:09And you being a woodturner, I mean that is the perfect light shade
26:13Well, you know how we make lampshades like that
26:16Go on
26:17You make a bowl
26:18Yeah
26:19Then you kind of go a bit deep
26:21You're kind of making a bit of a hole in the bottom
26:23Oh wait, it's actually through making a mini-mistake
26:25There's a little mistake
26:27I didn't realise that
26:29That is brilliant
26:31Yeah, so I now actually make lampshades on purpose
26:33Yeah, I mean that definitely looks like there's a bit of perfection in that one
26:37Gavin has a whole room dedicated to showcasing his perfection
26:45Oh mate
26:50That is stunningly beautiful
26:54And this is what keeps me busy
26:57That's a lot of your life right there, isn't it?
27:00That's your passion and love there
27:02There's quite a few hours in each bowl
27:03I mean the variation and the look and the different timbers that you've used
27:08I mean it looks like a shop
27:10It is my shop
27:11I get that but like you're in such a remote location, right?
27:14You haven't got much pass and trade
27:16There's no people just wandering by and coming into your shop to buy a bowl
27:20I always feel privileged when people do make the effort to actually come and see my stuff in person
27:25And do you make them all here?
27:26Ah yeah, I've got a lovely workshop downstairs
27:29Let's go
27:30You want to see us?
27:32Now I love a good workshop or shed
27:36But Gavin's is something else
27:39Oh mate
27:41How's that for a wood life?
27:43Hang on, before I even get to the wood layer
27:45Look at this!
27:46I mean this is pr... have you like set this up for me today?
27:49Did you put extra shavings on the floor to make it look even cooler?
27:52Is this what it's like all the time?
27:53This is weeks of shaving
27:54I'm just going to shake your hand for one of the best workshops I've ever seen in my life
27:58Come on, this is like carpentry heaven
28:01Where does it all start?
28:03Honestly I started wood turning as a bit of a de-stress for my day job
28:07Do something where I can start with a rough piece of wood and end up with a beautiful little bowl in one session
28:12It was a great de-stress
28:17Gavin will spend up to a month crafting a ball
28:21With up to five on the gore at a time
28:24Throw that on
28:25Proper, proper, proper
28:27I'd happily spend a month in this workshop
28:31But I'll have to settle for a quick spin
28:37Just make sure you've got that
28:39I am that way
28:40Yep, and make sure you've got contact on your to-rest first
28:43You're just skimming the edge, you aren't pushing it
28:47Beautiful mate, you look like a bro
28:49No way, I think you're just being nice because the camera's on
28:51I am being nice, but it's looking good too
28:53I am being nice
28:55Look at that, I'm even decorating myself
28:58Ah, you got the visor on me
29:00Yeah, I know that, that was my gag
29:01Oh, sorry
29:12This timber treasure is a testament to Gavin and Ruth's vision and persistence
29:18By going off road and off grid
29:22They've turned a family inheritance into the home of their dreams
29:27And they're not the only ones
29:30Gavin wants me to meet his neighbours
29:33Who I've been told are quite an interesting couple
29:36And we've got an interesting project
29:40Hello, are you Simon?
29:41Yes
29:42Simon, nice to meet you mate, how are you?
29:43Good, thank you
29:44I'm glad you've got this because there's a lot of hills around here
29:47Yes
29:48And I'm a bit knackered
29:49I was
29:50Hop aboard, jump in
29:51It's going up
29:52Thanks man
29:53Lovely to meet you
29:57This gravel driveway is as close to a road as you can get on Carwall Island
30:03Beautiful, isn't it?
30:04It certainly is
30:05Oh, it's gorgeous
30:07Data engineer Simon discovered Carwall through his wife Ariathia
30:13His grandfather bought this plot in the 1950s
30:18And a bit of a dodgy corner
30:21Just in case there's any uncommon traffic
30:24And here we are
30:25Oh look, that's a wide turn
30:26But it took 60 years before Simon took on the challenge of building on this difficult terrain
30:37A challenge which demanded an unconventional solution
30:45We're here
30:46Oh darling
30:47Hello, hello, hello
30:48Hello
30:49Are you a hugger?
30:50I'm definitely a hugger
30:51Definitely a hugger
30:53This is incredible
30:54Thank you
30:56Did you build it?
30:57Yes, we built this 10 years ago
30:59And put most of the work in ourselves
31:02So why a yurt of all the structures?
31:04One of the reasons is simplicity
31:06It's a simple structure
31:07It was simple to build
31:09Also cost
31:10It's very expensive building on an island
31:12Shipping materials here
31:13But there's something magical about them I think
31:15I mean they're kind of steeped in history
31:17They've been used for nomads who would put up their beautiful tent or their yurt
31:21And then move on to another place
31:23But this one certainly isn't
31:24Like the old Mongolian ones
31:26Which cramped, dark and smell of sheep
31:36And what location?
31:37My word
31:38It's absolutely fantastic
31:40And I haven't even seen the inside yet
31:42Come on in
31:43Welcome George, after you
31:44Looking forward to this
31:45I don't know quite what to expect
31:47Oh my word
31:49It is one beautiful
31:54Stunning open plan space
31:56There's no need for a grand tour
32:00Everything is on display
32:02And their quirky personalities
32:04And no force practicality
32:07Immediately shine through
32:12It's a perfectly considered interior layout
32:15With a welcoming warmth
32:17At the centre
32:22The centrepiece really is open
32:24In the Vedic architecture
32:25The idea of the sacred space
32:26Of the home being open to the cosmos
32:29And it's really acoustically powerful in there
32:32There's no hiding though is there?
32:33No there isn't
32:34There isn't
32:35This is us
32:36Even the place where one would usually go to hide
32:40Is unashamedly on display
32:43At least its proximity from the main dwelling
32:47Keeps the living space from smelling like the yurts of old
32:51Not only that
32:53But this glassed in structure doubles as a greenhouse
32:58And of course there's the support structures
33:02Including the solar panels
33:04That power up this canvas palace
33:07Living in a yurt
33:11What's it like?
33:12It brings a sense of simplicity to life
33:14You don't want to be too complicated
33:16You just want to take things easy
33:18There's always plenty to do up here
33:23The yurt began as a holiday home
33:26But it proved irresistible
33:28And after spending Covid lockdown here
33:31They've made it their full-time residence
33:35I am struck always
33:37There's this feeling of upward energy
33:39You know this is a healing house for both of us
33:42I mean without getting into it
33:44It's not a therapy session
33:45I don't want to get too heavy
33:46If you talk about a healing house
33:47That's a big statement
33:48I know it is
33:49So just give me a little hint
33:50As to what that means
33:51For you
33:52So
33:53It saved our marriage
33:55It saved your marriage
33:58Seriously
33:59Yeah
34:00I fell apart
34:01Because I hadn't looked at trauma from my childhood
34:03Through the being able to be here and heal
34:06We were brought back closer and closer together
34:08And for a while there it didn't look like it may happen
34:12But we did
34:13I think it's absolutely magic
34:14I really really do
34:15Thank you
34:17I'm really starting to appreciate
34:20How moving into the wild
34:22Can change your life in ways
34:25You'd never imagine
34:27Now it's another beautiful day on Kawa Island
34:40And today I'm being picked up by Phil
34:43Who's known as an island weekender
34:45Now I'm off to see his batch
34:47Which I'm told is an ode to his childhood holidays
34:51Now that boat looks very cute
34:57And pretty fast
35:02Hi George
35:03Phil how are you doing?
35:04Good
35:05That is a beautiful boat
35:06Thank you
35:08There you go
35:09Lovely to meet you
35:10Likewise
35:11It's an absolute pleasure
35:12What a gorgeous spot this is
35:13Isn't it amazing?
35:14So we're going to head to your place?
35:15Yeah
35:16Jump in
35:21Phil is an architect
35:27And he's taking me to see the house he built for himself
35:30And his wife Suzanne
35:31In North Cove
35:39Not bad at all
35:40Yeah but it's a fair weather boat
35:41So the sea can get pretty rough
35:43And it's not very good in that
35:45Yeah
35:46Phil's weekend retreat sits at the far end of the cove
35:54Where the tide comes and goes
35:57Luckily for us
35:59We've timed it perfectly
36:01It's amazing
36:04Absolutely beautiful
36:05Getting a glimpse of Phil's place from sea level
36:09It's impossible not to be intrigued
36:12And after a thigh burning climb up the hill
36:17That's a few steps mate
36:19Yeah
36:2080 steps
36:2180 steps
36:22The full scale of its magnificence
36:25Slowly unfolds
36:32And then just as you turn you see your beautiful side elevation
36:36It just blends with the landscape
36:38I just love the way that you've got the beautiful verticals of those trees
36:43And then it naturally just flows into the vertical rhythm
36:46Of the timber cladding you've got on the outside
36:49And you've gone for different wits haven't you?
36:51Why is that?
36:52Yeah I have
36:53Because the forest is random
36:54So I just wanted to continue that through
36:56So it sits really well in its environment
36:59And what timber is it?
37:00Yeah this is large
37:01It's charred and scrubbed
37:03And why did you go for a charred and scrub like to?
37:06Staining you lose the grain
37:08But with charring much nicer texture
37:11With this level of thought and detail outside
37:16I can't wait to see the interior
37:19Oh my words
37:26Phil's take on the kiwi batch is elegant and soothing
37:34There's not even a separate bedroom
37:37Only the bathroom gets privacy
37:41But the tiered layout gives these living spaces room to breathe
37:46And the nostalgic and comfort and decor celebrates Kiwiana
37:52That's just stunning
37:55It's just calm
37:56It's beautiful
37:57It's relaxing
37:58That's the main thing for us
37:59You've got to work hard
38:01You do
38:02To make something look simple yet beautiful
38:05Yeah
38:06I love the fact that you stepped it up
38:08Everything's stepped
38:09Absolutely
38:10Yeah it's quite a steep section
38:11But you know we work with it
38:12You know you don't fight the land
38:13And you've been able to be up here
38:15And have the same view as you do anywhere else in the house
38:18I just love the fact that it's very simple
38:21Three distinctive levels
38:23Where you've got kitchen, upper level, dining, mid level
38:27And then your lounge and bedroom
38:30On the lower level leading out of the deck
38:32Yeah we didn't really want to cut the space up with walls
38:35So we used the cabinetry to delineate those spaces
38:43Plywood simple shelves where you've got a door
38:45No handles
38:46You can just pop that open
38:47Oh and I love your hob
38:49That's proper old school
38:50Yeah
38:51You like a bit of vintage
38:52Yeah I do
38:53We only bought two new things
38:54The bed and the fridge
38:55Yeah
38:56The Kiwi batch was always a place that was constructed out of
38:59Second-hand materials and hand-me-downs you know
39:06But this door?
39:07This door
39:08Suzanne found this on the side of the road
39:09No way!
39:10From a laundry
39:11And she rang me and said quick get the car quick
39:13And we whipped around there and put it in the back
39:15And put some varnish on it and there you go
39:17That's fantastic
39:18Yeah absolutely
39:19It's a little slider
39:24And it's just got everything you need
39:26You've got your lovely shower
39:27Bit of corrugated metal
39:29Love that
39:30Sink
39:31That'll last another hundred years though
39:33Absolutely
39:34Some lovely timber cladding on the inside
39:36Did you do all that?
39:37Did you distress it?
39:38Yes, yes we did
39:39The colour is original but we just put the belt sander over it quickly
39:41I see
39:42Yeah
39:43That's come up a treat hasn't it?
39:44It has
39:45Phil's made utilising this cosy 12 metre by 7 metre footprint looks simple
39:54But of course on an island nothing is simple
40:01You look at the structure you think well that's really simple
40:04It's a beautiful elegant box with a sloping roof on it
40:07But to build that simple box you've really got to think about every single material
40:12Yeah so we needed to work very closely with the builders to decide some of those things
40:17We've incorporated some bracing elements that were lightweight and easily transported and lifted into place
40:23Lightweight engineered rafters for the roof
40:26Because you didn't want really heavy stuff and need a crane
40:28We did need to get a helicopter on one occasion
40:31Did you?
40:32I bet that blew the budget
40:33Well yeah it did
40:35You got a helicopter?
40:38Yes
40:39There's me talking about simplicity and you're like get the helicopter in
40:42Why did you need that?
40:43But the thing was we needed a water tank up the hill
40:46And when you think about dudes trying to push it up a hill
40:51Yeah yeah
40:52It looks like ants trying to move something right?
40:54Yeah
40:55So flew that over
40:56And they also flew over the roofing material and they were able to position it straight on top of the roof
41:05And if that structure wasn't enough
41:08Phil decided to build some extra accommodation
41:13But instead of doing a kind of really serious piece of architecture, a solid structure
41:19Instead he thought we're going to build a little timber frame
41:22And we're going to build a canvas tent over the top of it
41:25And this is a space where everybody wants to stay
41:29I love it
41:30It just summarises what a batch is all about
41:34Not over the top, not pretentious, but beautiful elegant simplicity
41:39I'll be happy with this
41:41And if a guest wants a private bath
41:44And if a guest wants a private bath, the sheltered east side of the house delivers in spades
41:50Now when Phil had that beautiful old door that said bathroom on it
41:56I thought hang on a minute
41:57It's a shower room, there's no bathroom there
41:59But it's outside
42:01Beautifully positioned
42:03He's even got another shower out here as well
42:05And look at that for a view
42:07You're just looking through beautiful forests
42:10And the really amazing thing
42:16That's not even the best view
42:18And then look at that
42:20How good is that?
42:22Can I just move in?
42:23You won't notice me
42:24I'll just kind of hide in the corner somewhere
42:31I've bought myself a few extra hours at Phil's Palace
42:35As the tide is starting to go out
42:38I've just noticed there's starting to be a little bit more mud
42:41Yep
42:42Than water
42:43Does that completely go?
42:44That goes all the way out
42:45It's really interesting to have the two aspects of it
42:48When the tide's out and when the tide's in
42:50Might just be able to walk along there and see your neighbours
42:53Yeah, we just wander across
42:54And they wander across here
42:55And play golf out here
42:57But you play golf out there when the tide's gone out?
42:59Out there
43:00Absolutely
43:01You are joking
43:02No, I'm not
43:04Golf's not exactly my strong point
43:06But there's no way I'm going to pass up a chance
43:09To play on a course as unique as this
43:15So, um, there's a slight technical problem
43:18What's that?
43:19Well, this is a right-handed club
43:21You only have right-handed clubs
43:22Yes
43:23And I am massively left-handed
43:24Right
43:25So that's my excuse before I even try and hit this ball
43:28Okay, here we go
43:29This could go anywhere
43:32Oh!
43:33Well done!
43:34They wouldn't let you into the members club
43:36No
43:37With that footwear
43:38No, definitely not
43:41Okay, you ready?
43:42Yep
43:43Here we go
43:49Oh!
43:50Take that tiger
44:03Thank you, tiger
44:06Lawtide isn't just good for a quick round of golf
44:11It also opens up a path for fellow Carwar Island weekenders
44:16To wander over to Phil and Suzanne's for a drink
44:20There are two areas around
44:22It's either here or over there
44:23Or up there or down there
44:25It's such a great job
44:27People joke about it, right?
44:29But when I'm here, I'm living the dream
44:32Plain and simple
44:33This might sound a little bit heavy
44:34But what do you think it does for your state of mind
44:37Your health and wellbeing
44:38Being in an island?
44:39I'm ageless
44:40Look at me
44:42Look, you're 20
44:43What are you?
44:47Clearly life on Carwar changes people
44:50I've seen that all over the islands
44:53But for Phil and Suzanne
44:55It meant something much, much deeper
44:59So shortly after we completed the build
45:01Suzanne got a diagnosis with cancer
45:04And it was a really rugged three years
45:07She had multiple surgeries
45:10And chemotherapy, radiotherapy
45:13Lots of complications
45:14So we would get her here
45:16As frequently as we could
45:18Just to sit in bed here
45:20And look at the view
45:21She had no energy to read a book
45:23And she was able to watch the day go by
45:26It was pretty dire
45:28If we didn't have this batch
45:29The outcome might have been different
45:30I think
45:31Yeah, absolutely
45:32You think so?
45:33Yeah, absolutely
45:34It's nice to think that in some ways
45:36This helped
45:37Absolutely
45:38Maybe
45:39Yeah
45:40I mean a bit like a holiday home
45:41Isn't a particularly good financial investment
45:43But for mental health
45:45It's a life saver
45:46It really is
45:49It's been an absolute joy
45:51To get off the beaten track
45:52And discover Cowwall Island
45:55I've met so many welcoming people
45:59Who are happy to swap the conveniences of mainland life
46:03For this island's rugged beauty
46:06And the gifts the simple life brings
46:09I've loved my time here
46:12And I'll be back
46:14It's the island life
46:16It's been a pleasure to meet you
46:17Hey
46:18It's the island life
46:19And next time
46:21I'll bring a left-handed golf club
46:24To be continued...
46:36Transcription by CastingWords
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